New HBO documentary puts a much-needed face on veterans struggling with PTSD

“When I first got back home from Afghanistan, my dad was like, ‘Hey, if you ever want to talk, we’re here for you,'” retired Marine Joe Merritt says in “We Are Not Done Yet,” a new HBO documentary produced by actor Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld,” “Casino Royale,” “Boardwalk Empire”) and directed by Sareen Hairabedian.

“But it never made sense to be like, ‘Hey dad, I watched people burn to death. Also, can you pass the mashed potatoes?’ Like, how do I start this conversation?”

Almost 3 million service members have been deployed in support of American war operations since 2001. Of those who deployed to operations in Iraq or Afghanistan, approximately 14% to 20% suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Additionally, female veterans experience military-related sexual trauma at a rate of over 32%.

“We Are Not Done Yet” goes well beyond the aforementioned statistics, however, to tell the stories of ten veterans from diverse backgrounds and experiences, all pursuing a process of healing and empowerment together through the arts.